March 2026
Meeting: Parish Council Network Meeting
Date: 11 March 2026
Venue: Aston cum Aughton Parish Hall
Chair: Victoria Cusworth
Minute taker: Catherine Oxtoby
In attendance
- Andrew Woodhead: Anston Parish Council
- Mick Elliot: Aston cum Aughton Parish Council
- Bill Mawson: Aston cum Aughton Parish Council
- Brian Mears: Aston cum Aughton Parish Council
- George Davis: Aston cum Aughton Parish Council
- Pauline Davis: Aston cum Aughton Parish Council
- Harry Ratcliffe: Aston cum Aughton Parish Council
- Stephen Forster: Aston cum Aughton Parish Council
- Ros Burnett: Brampton Bierlow Parish Council
- Joanne Holsey: Dalton Parish Council
- James Rodgers: Maltby Town Council
- Dave Rowley: Ravenfield Parish Council
- Cllr Victoria Cusworth: Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, RMBC
- Catherine Oxtoby: Parish Council Liaison Officer, RMBC
- Allan Lewis: Group Manager Street Lighting, Inspections & Streetworks, RMBC
- Scott Hollingworth: Engineer Street Lighting, Signs and Amenities, RMBC
- Gemma Lawson: Assistant Engineer, RMBC
- Nat Porter: RMBC
- Andrea Peers: RMBC
- Richard Turner: SYMCA
- Terry Adair: Treeton Parish Council
Apologies
- Clive Jepson: Anston Parish Council
- Paul Lindley: Brinsworth Parish Council
- Al Evans: Firbeck Parish Council
- Fiona Radford: Harthill with Woodall Parish Council
- Sarah Day: Harthill with Woodall Parish Council
- Caroline Havenhand: Harthill with Woodall & Laughton-en-le-Morthen Parish Councils
- Ben Styring: Maltby Parish Council
- Rebecca Jupp: Ravenfield Parish Council
- Patricia Whitworth: Ravenfield Parish Council
- Martin Hughes: RMBC
- Anne Wilson: Thorpe Salvin Parish Council
- Claire Cooper: Thrybergh Parish Council
- Rachel Grahem: Waverley Parish Council
- Brendan McNamara: Wenworth Parish Council
- Tont Griffin: Whiston Parish Council
- Rachel Chico: Wickersley Parish Council
Items to discuss
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Welcome & Introductions
Cllr Cusworth welcomed all to the meeting, participants were asked to introduce themselves.
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Bus services update – Richard Turner, SYMCA
Richard provided an overview of how local bus services operate. Since deregulation in 1986, services have been run by private operators. In areas where routes are not commercially viable, SYMCA funds services through public money, council levies, and government grants. SYMCA also funds concessionary travel for older people and children.
A proposal has been put forward for a centrally planned bus network, where private operators would run services under contract and be required to follow agreed routes. Consultation showed strong public support for this approach.
Sheffield and Doncaster will move to a franchised model in 2027, followed by Rotherham and Barnsley in 2028. SYMCA is currently gathering feedback on route priorities.
The overall network will remain similar, with scope to add services where gaps are identified.
Questions raised included:
- Transport Commissioner: This role sits within a government‑run organisation that also oversees DVLA and vehicle safety. Operators must meet the service levels they register.
- Bus liveries: A new SYMCA livery will launch next week. In 2027, full rebranding is unlikely due to cross‑boundary services.
- Aston–Crystal Peaks route: Expected to be reviewed as part of the 2027 Sheffield franchising process.
- Doncaster franchising: Expected in 2027; routes beginning in Doncaster will follow that timeline.
- Council tax levy: A levy already exists to fund non‑commercial services and concessions. No changes are planned. Under franchising, any profits will be reinvested in the network.
- Fleet sustainability: Hybrid and electric buses are used in some areas. Rotherham has secured funding to improve air quality, and the long‑term goal is a more environmentally sustainable fleet.
- Reliability: Real‑time information is already available online (e.g. BusTimes.org) and at some stops.
- Route changes: Requests should be made to SYMCA and will be subject to consultation.
- Tram extensions: Earlier plans were made by the former Passenger Transport Executive.
- New housing developments: SYMCA reviews planning applications and can recommend funding for new or enhanced local bus services.
- Driver shortages: A shortage of drivers remains the biggest issue; vehicle numbers are less of a concern.
- Closure of Rotherham depot: It was considered outdated and no longer suitable for modern operational needs.
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Street Lighting - Allan Lewis, Scott Hollingsworth & Gemma Lawson, RMBC
The RMBC team discussed the growing national concerns around the safety of attachments to lighting columns.
There have been several serious incidents nationally where lighting columns have failed, resulting in tightened Health & Safety Executive guidance. Ensuring public safety is the priority.
Key points included:
- A Private accredited contractor carries out column testing. Columns are rated from 1-5, with 5 requiring immediate replacement.
- Attachments (such as Christmas decorations or hanging baskets) are assessed individually based on weight, height, location, and condition of the column.
- Columns are desined primarily to support lighting units, not additional items.
- Environmental factors such as traffic, winter gritting, and dog urine can accelerate corrosion.
- Recent tests in some parishes have shown that even new-ish columns may not be safe for attachments.
Typical questions raised:
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Cost of stress testing: One of the companies used by Rotherham Council charged for a minimum of 13 columns at £950 per day, plus £50 per structural report.
- Qualifications: Only a small number of accredited companies nationally can undertake this work.
- Concrete columns: A capital bid has been submitted to replace concrete columns on main routes and eventually all concrete columns.
- Reporting concerns: Faulty or potentially unsafe columns, bollards, or signs can be reported using the council’s online form, report a faulty street light, bollard or sign.
- Hanging baskets: These pose particular challenges due to unpredictable weight and wind load, however, can follow the same process as other attachments for testing and approval. Alternative planting options could be a suitable alternative.
- Planning permission: Additional freestanding posts for displays may require planning permission depending on location.
- Planning permission: Additional freestanding posts for displays may require planning permission depending on location.
- AOB
Copies of the Joint Working Agreement were distributed.
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Date of Next Meeting
3 June 2026, 6:30pm until 8:30pm at Aston Parish Hall.
